Detroit Dry Dock Company (Builder Profile)
The Detroit Dry Dock Company was one of the most renowned shipyards in the United States during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Known for producing high-quality vessels, the company played a significant role in Great Lakes and U.S. maritime history. Its facility in Wyandotte, Michigan, was one of its key construction sites, supplementing its operations in Detroit.
Company Overview
- Established: 1860s in Detroit, Michigan, later expanded to Wyandotte, Michigan.
- Primary Role: Construction and repair of wooden and steel vessels for the Great Lakes trade, as well as oceangoing vessels.
- Specialties: Wooden steamers (both sidewheel and propeller types). Transitioned to steel-hulled vessels during the late 19th century. Produced freighters, passenger steamers, tugs, and specialized craft.
Wyandotte Facility
Purpose: Constructed to expand the company’s capacity for building larger vessels and to accommodate growing demand for steam-powered ships.The facility was strategically located on the Detroit River, enabling easy access to the Great Lakes shipping routes.
Output: Known for producing bulk carriers, passenger steamers, and tugs. Shipbuilding at this facility contributed to the rapid industrialization and economic growth of the region.
Notable Ships connected to the Detroit Dry Dock Company
- Year Built: 1898
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, MI
- Type: Steel-hulled propeller, passenger and package freight vessel
- Specifications: Length: 165 ft; Beam: 31 ft; Depth: 11 ft; Gross Tonnage: 681
- Description: America was a hybrid vessel, blending a steel hull with a wooden superstructure, designed for passenger and package delivery. Its triple expansion steam engine allowed for efficient operations on Great Lakes routes. The ship’s dual purpose—transporting passengers and goods—highlighted its importance as a regional connector, particularly in remote areas.
- Year Built: 1869
- Builder: Campbell & Owen, Detroit, MI
- Type: Wooden-hulled bulk/package freighter
- Description: Originally built as a package freighter, Annie Young was the first bulk freighter built by Campbell & Owen, a company that later became Detroit Dry Dock Co. She served with the Anchor Line before being transferred to the Lake Superior Transit Company, operating primarily on Lakes Huron, Superior, and Michigan.
- Year Built: 1873
- Type: Unrigged barge (converted to steam-powered propeller in 1881)
- Description: The Argonaut began as an unrigged barge for bulk cargo transport and was converted in 1881 to a steam-powered screw propeller vessel, reflecting the era’s technological advancements. As a steam-powered freighter, she served the Great Lakes trade routes, transporting materials like ore and coal.
- Year Built: 1889
- Type: Steam-powered tugboat
- Service: The Champion assisted ship movements along the Detroit River and supported vessel construction at the Wyandotte yard.
- Year Built: 1892
- Type: passenger and package freight steamer,
- Specifications: Length: 198.5 feet (60.5 m) Beam: 35 feet (10.7 m) Depth: 13.6 feet (4.1 m)
- built to operate year-round, even in the challenging winter conditions of Lake Michigan. She was constructed with an especially stout wooden hull featuring six-inch-thick planking and three waterproof compartments, making her one of the most robust lake steamers of her time. Her luxurious accommodations made her the premier vessel in the Graham & Morton fleet, earning her the nickname the “Queen Mary” of Lake Michigan.
was a large, iron-hulled package freighter constructed in 1881 by the Detroit Dry Dock Company at Wyandotte, Michigan. As a duplicate of the steamer Lehigh, she featured advanced engineering for her time, including a powerful screw propulsion system driven by a dual-cylinder engine and a large boiler with three circular furnaces. Measuring nearly 241 feet (73.4 m) in length, the Clarion had substantial cargo capacity and was a key vessel in the Pennsylvania Railroad’s efforts to transport goods efficiently across the Great Lakes.
- Year Built 1882
- Type wooden propeller steamer
- designed for break-bulk cargo and passenger transport. She was never a railroad car ferry, despite some confusion due to her early name. In 1906, she was sold to Canadian owners, lengthened by 35 feet (10.7 m), and converted into a barge, removing her engines and relying on tugboats for towing. This modification extended her operational life but made her more vulnerable to storms, as she no longer had propulsion to maneuver in heavy weather.
- Year Built: 1888
- Type: Steel-hulled schooner barge
- Specifications: Length: 212 ft; Tonnage: 1,500 tons
- Service: Used in the bulk trade, primarily carrying coal and iron ore. The Henry B. Smith sank during the Great Lakes Storm of 1913, a devastating event that claimed numerous vessels.
- Year Built 1888
- Type steel-hulled package freighter,
- Service; Designed to transport grain, flaxseed, and other bulk cargo across the Great Lakes. The vessel was one of the more modern steamers of its time, featuring fore-and-aft tandem stacks and a distinctive green and grey paint scheme, making it one of the most recognizable ships on the Great Lakes.
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, MI
- Type: Wooden propeller (converted from barge)
- Specifications: Length: 141 ft; Gross Tonnage: 303 tons
- Description: The Nellie Torrent was initially used as a barge before being fitted with an engine in 1882 at Milwaukee, transforming her into a self-propelled bulk freighter. She primarily transported lumber on Lake Huron.
- Year Built: 1894
- Type: Steel passenger steamer
- Specifications: Length: 386 ft
- Description: Known for its luxurious accommodations and state-of-the-art technology, the Northwest provided passenger service between major Great Lakes ports.
- Year Built: 1880
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Detroit, MI
- Type: Wooden-hulled bulk freighter
- Specifications: Two-deck freighter, powered by a for-and-aft compound steam engine producing 750 horsepower
- Description: Built for bulk cargo transport of coal, grain, iron ore, and copper sand, the Thomas W. Palmer was equipped with an efficient steam engine crafted by the Dry Dock Engine Works in Detroit.
- Year Built: 1880
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, MI
- Type: Sidewheel car ferry (later converted to barge)
- Description: The Transport was designed as a sidewheel car ferry capable of carrying 21 railcars. Converted into a barge in 1933, she was later fitted with a crane for loading pulpwood and bulk cargo. By World War II, she was an unpowered barge towed by steam tugs.
- Year Built: 1881
- Builder: Detroit Dry Dock Co., Wyandotte, MI
- Type: Passenger and package freight steamer
- Description: Built for the Goodrich Transit Line, the Wisconsin served in passenger and package freight transport across Lake Michigan, connecting Chicago, Milwaukee, and other western lakeshore communities.
Conclusion
This selection of Great Lakes vessels reflects the diversity of maritime design and functionality that defined the region’s shipping industry from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries. From luxurious passenger steamers like the Northwest to hard-working bulk freighters like the Thomas W. Palmer, these vessels illustrate the technological evolution and economic importance of Great Lakes shipping in supporting both regional commerce and community connectivity.
Role in Maritime History
- Industrial Innovation: Transitioned from wooden ships to steel-hulled vessels, keeping pace with technological advancements. Introduced innovative designs that increased the capacity and efficiency of bulk freighters.
- Economic Growth: Supported the booming iron ore, coal, and grain trades on the Great Lakes. Played a key role in passenger transport, contributing to the development of tourism and intercity travel.
- Regional Importance: Positioned Detroit and Wyandotte as critical hubs for shipbuilding on the Great Lakes.
End of Operations
The Detroit Dry Dock Company operated until the early 20th century before being absorbed by other companies. Its legacy is preserved in the vessels it built, many of which were critical to the Great Lakes maritime industry.
Research Opportunities
- Archives and Records: Library of Congress: Search for ship blueprints and construction records.
- Maritime History of the Great Lakes: Provides detailed ship histories and incident reports.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca
- Dossin Great Lakes Museum in Detroit may have artifacts and documentation related to Detroit Dry Dock Company ships.
- National Museum of the Great Lakes: Includes records and exhibits on Detroit-area shipbuilding.
- Wyandotte Historical Society: Local records may shed light on the shipyard’s operations and its role in the community.
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